Engine starting apparatus



Aug. 5, 1958 K. A. BRIDGES ENGINE STARTING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 14, 1956 Aug. 5, 1958 K. 'A. BRIDGES ENGINE swarms APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 14, 1956 United 2,845,801 ENGINE STARTENG APPARATUS Kenneth Albert Bridges, liter Heath, England, assignor to C. A. V. Limited, London, England Application May 14, 1956, Serial No. 584,785 Claims priority, application Great Britain May 25, 1955 2 Claims. (Ci. 74-6) In the specification of Patent No. 2,773,563, there is described and claimed an engine starting apparatus which comprises a cylindrical rubber member, a manually operable torsional straining device connected to one end of the said member, an axially and rotationally movable pinion for engagement with the engine, means connected to the other end of the rubber member for actuating the said pinion, and a controlling catch engageable with the said means, the arrangement being such that when the catch is in its initial inoperative position an engine-engaging movement can be imparted to the said pinion through the rubber member, and when in its operative position the rubber member can be strained, the energy stored in the said member being released for imparting movement to the engine by return of the catch to its inoperative positron.

In one embodiment of the invention described in the above mentioned specification there is pivoted on the housing of the mechanism a catch for engaging a gear wheel associated with the engine-starting pinion, the catch being loaded by a spring which tends to withdraw the catch from the said wheel. Engagement of the catch with the said wheel is eflected by a relatively strong spring acting on a hand lever.

The present invention relates to a modification of the means for moving the catch into and out of its operative position, and the invention comprises a hand lever having combined with it a spring-loaded toggle member for actuating the catch.

In the accompanying drawings Figure l is a sectional side view, and Figure 2 a cross section on the line 22 of Figure 1, illustrating a mechanism provided with the feature forming the subject of the present invention.

In general, the mechanism shown in Figures 1 and 2 is similar to that shown in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings of Patent No. 2,773,563. It includes a cylindrical rubber member a which can be torsionally energized by manual actuation of the worm b and wheel 0. The member a is secured to one end of a shaft d through which and a coupling e motion can be transmitted through a train of gear wheels f, g, h, i, to a pinion k on a sleeeve m which is freely mounted on one end of the shaft d. The sleeve in has formed on it a quick-pitch screw thread with which is engaged an axially movable member having formed on it the engine-starting pinion p and a circular flange q. The pinion k is engageable by a pivoted catch r from which extends a peg s which can ride on the periphery of the flange 4.

According to the present invention, the lever which controls the catch r consists of a hollow tubular part 3 which is pivoted to the housing of the mechanism by a trunnion 4. To this part is secured a hollow extension 5 containing a strong spring 6, and from the part 5 extends a handle 7. In the part 3 is contained a slidable plunger 8 which is loaded by the spring 6, and in the lower end of the said part 3 is contained one end of a toggle member 9 which extends from the said part, and which at its other end pivotally engages a recess in the free end of the pivoted catch r. The toggle member has a convenient amount of angular freedom relatively to the lever, so that the axis of the toggle can move to either side of the longitudinal centre line of the lever.

2,845,891 Patented Aug. 5, 1958 In the free position of the mechanism, the hand lever occupies the position indicated by the dotted line 10. The catch 1' is then held by the toggle link 9 in a position clear of the pinion k. In this position the axis of the toggle is at the opposite side of its dead centre position to that shown. When it is required to bring the mechanism into action, the handle lever is moved to the position shown, which is determined by the stop 11. But the catch r cannot at this stage engage the pinion k as it is held in the position shown by contact of the peg s with the periphery of the flange q, the pressure exerted by the peg on the flange being sufficient to prevent rotation of the pinion p. The first efiect of rotating the worm b is to cause the member a and spindle d acting through the gear train above mentioned, to rotate the sleeve in and so cause the pinion p to move axially into engagement with a toothed wheel (not shown) on the engine. Towards the end of this movement of the pinion p the associated flange q passes out of contact with the peg s and so allows the catch 1' to be moved by the spring 6 into engagement with the pinion k, thus preventing further rotation of this pinion. Continued rotation of the Worm b then has the effect of torsionally straining the member a. When this member is sufficiently strained the hand lever is returned to its initial position 10, so retracting the catch and releasing the pinion k. The stored energy of the member a is thereby released, causing it to impart the desired rotation to the pinion p for starting the engine.

By this invention the catch actuating means is provided in a simple form, and the hand lever is securely held against accidental movement from either of its two positions.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An engine starting apparatus comprising in combination a cylindrical elastic member, manually operable means connected to one end of said elastic member for torsionally straining the latter to cause energy to be stored therein, transmission means connected to the other end of said elastic member for imparting the energy stored therein to the engine, a catch engageable with said transmission means for controlling the action thereof, a hand lever, and a spring-loaded toggle member through the medium of which said catch is operable by said hand lever, said transmission means including an internally screw threaded axially and rotationally movable pinion for engagement with the engine, and a complementary screw threaded member on which said pinion is mounted, and which is rotatable by said manually operable means through the medium of said elastic member, when said catch is in an inoperative position, to cause axial movement of said pinion into its engine-engaging position, said catch being subsequently movable into an operative position for holding said complementary screw threaded member stationary whilst energy is being stored in said elastic member, and being returnable to an inoperative position for enabling the stored energy to be imparted to the engine.

2. An engine starting apparatus accordingto claim 1, in which said hand lever and spring-loaded toggle member comprise in combination a hollow lever, 21 spring-loaded plunger slidable in said hollow lever, and a toggle member extending from one end of said hollow lever and in contact with said plunger.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,022,087 Jenney Apr. 2, 1912 1,322,069 Spiro Nov. 18, 1919 2,555,451 Levesque Du Rostu June 5, 1951 2,568,136 Weimer Sept. 18, 19.51 

